Assistant Manager at KPMG South Africa

Role Purpose

• This role may manage one or more client engagements or components of large scale engagements, as well as individually contributing quality work on the engagement.
• Provides technical knowledge, direction and training to people, coordinates engagement management and effectively utilises resources as appropriate.
• Manages engagements to consistently achieve specific revenue and profit objectives and deliver designated engagement realisation.
• Day-to-day management of team on engagements, including coaching and providing constructive feedback, using Performance Development. Increases focus on business development, building on networks across the practice and people development activities.
• To take responsibility for the seamless delivery of internal projects/services, managing others and influencing key stakeholders.
• To manage and develop external client relationships through direct business development activity and internal people/resource management.

Performance

• Manages client portfolio, typical amount for service line as defined in service line summary.
• Manages and executes multiple client engagements or components of large scale engagements to deliver high quality services on time and within budgeted realisation.
• Clearly communicates expectations with regards to work an timelines to team members.
• Provides initial justification on the start-up of an engagement and continues to define deliverables, objectives, constraints and assumptions throughout the life cycle of all engagement activities.
• In the process of identifying and managing change related risks, is able to clearly articulate the role of behavioural change management in the execution of an engagement and how it is connected to other People and Change activities.
• Understands the commercial and contractual aspects of an engagement including managing fee-proposals, overruns and work above budget.
• Demonstrates commitment to continuous improvement in the delivery of quality services to clients, providing value add and well thought out solution to client’s problems.
• Demonstrates a tolerance for ambiguity and an ability to flex delivery style to meet various needs.
• Effectively manages and maintains expected utilisation and productivity target for self and people members on engagements as   appropriate.
• Applies innovative and creative techniques in suggesting and implementing process improvements on client engagements.
• Is responsible for managing and maintaining the engagement budgets, demonstrating effective cost control and expense management by delivering the project on budget, assisting managers in billing and collections.
• As directed, takes ownership for decision making on fee estimates, realisation, resource mix and skill requirements for the clients’ engagement.
• Ability to deliver fully integrated and exceptional solutions and make decisions to best meet client needs; collaborating as required.
• Provides compelling and well thought out solutions to problems of moderate complexity.
• Proactively monitor engagement lock up.
• Meets firm deadlines during the performance management cycles for self and people, inclusive of goal setting, engagement reviews, interim and annual appraisals, where applicable completing Performance Development responsibilities.
• Ensures self and team meets risk management requirements.
• Ensures CPD is up to date.
• Objectively evaluates significant judgments and clearly documents conclusions reached – consulting with senior colleagues where appropriate.
• Applies sound judgment when faced with difficult decisions.
• Considers both client needs and financial implications when making difficult decisions.
• Able to provide self-assured responses in a credible manner.
• Negotiates effectively by emphasizing the benefits of a suggested approach.
• Proactively avoids personal independence breaches.

Clients and business development

• Applies the KPMG Business Development Framework and demonstrates the business development actions required.
• Develops strong client relationships with clients and is proactive in broadening and deepening client relationships.
• Develops an understanding of client needs and markets across the globe.
• Understands the potential implications of an existing problem for the future.
• Starting to specialise in a sector and possesses a developing level of knowledge in the industry by staying aware of market and competitor trends.
• Remains current on competitor trends with relevant Line of Business (LOB) contacts in other parts of Advisory and the wider firm to share ideas and knowledge on specific clients and targets.
• Uses knowledge of KPMG’s broad service offerings to identify new opportunities and cross sell.
• Contributes to the development of a compelling, differentiated value proposition in opportunity pursuit.
• Prepares business development material, including proposals, case studies and other sector specific information.

Work Culture (People)

• Displays blue behaviours personally and encourages these in others to contribute to the culture journey within KPMG. Also, constructively challenges and provides timely feedback to others where behaviour is not in line with The Firm’s cultural aspiration.
• Acts with integrity and according to KPMG’s values.
• Provides direction to, and has managerial responsibility for engagement teams which involves effective delegation of responsibilities to appropriate levels, helping everyone understand how their job fits in.
• Gives others the opportunity to take on new tasks and responsibilities, encouraging the team members to get the most out of their on-the-job development opportunities.
• Maintains a positive work environment by being accessible, involved and interested in people, providing learning opportunities and developing people.
• Motivates others to achieve targets and spot new business opportunities.
• Provides timely and meaningful face-to-face and written feedback that helps people build on strengths and formulate plans to address career development   needs.
• Contributes to the learning of others through sharing knowledge and skills as part of formal and informal learning activities.
• Recognizes the importance of continuous self-development and actively takes ownership and responsibility for their own professional development.
• Actively identifies and manages ethical dilemmas with support from senior colleagues.
• Listens to viewpoints of others and addresses concerns.
• Demonstrates perseverance to face setbacks.
• Clearly articulates to others the importance of high quality work within a regulatory environment.
• Proactively calls out bad behaviour.

Knowledge

• Demonstrates a knowledge-sharing mind-set and builds a constructive culture by proactively sharing what they know with other KPMG people, teams and functions. Builds good relations across KPMG.
• Contributes to the development and publication of case studies, proposals, deliverables or other valuable engagement knowledge.
• Enables knowledge capture and sharing of insights through contributing to knowledge repositories.
• Facilitates the exchange of ideas and application of leading practices across the division and firm.
• Shares information about key learnings, successes and best practices though communities of practice and contributing to the knowledge resources of KPMG.
• Encourages others to contribute to the firm’s knowledge resources and knowledge repositories.
• Is up to date with business and current affairs by reading widely to gain insights into client industries and markets and apply this knowledge in working practices.
• Demonstrates deep expertise in area of specialism.
• Demonstrates expertise in at least one business area and experience in other business areas.
• Proactively develops internal and external networks, including peers in other organisations, KPMG Alumni, global contacts, social contacts and existing clients.
• Demonstrates an understanding that creativity can improve competitive advantage.

Impact on revenue and/or profit

• Responsible for managing and maintaining the engagement budget.
• As directed, takes ownership for decision making on fee estimation

People Management

• Responsible for teams: Team members / senior team members
• May be performance manager to staff below manager.

Decision Making and Advice

• Decision making without seeking approval:
• As directed, takes ownership for decision making on fee estimates, realization, resource mix and skill requirements for the clients’ engagement.
• Manages engagements, giving direction to engagement teams with delegating responsibilities and work plans.
• Advice and recommendations this role contributes to:
• Starting to specialize in a sector or LOB.
• Able to provide initial justification on the start-up of an engagement and continues to define deliverables.

 Relationships

• Internally:
• Team members (may be a mentor for junior team members)
• Shared Services – e.g. Advisory L&D, PPC, ITS, Advisory Risk Management
• Performance Development Manager
• Externally
• Client team members
• Networking across other professional bodies & associations

Skill, Knowledge, Experience

• Minimum qualifications
• Relevant University Degree
• Relevant certifications (service line specific)
• Postgraduate qualifications desirable
• Training Attended
•  People Management training.

Experience

• 5 years + of business experience
• Prior relevant, external experience within a competitor or industry   firm
• Cross divisional role within other KPMG Practicesor from industry
• Skills and knowledge
• As defined by Global Advisory Technical Framework
• Global Capability Framework Behaviours
• As defined by global behaviours framework